Players now, then a coach

A TRIO of Echuca’s star players have joined Simon Buckley in recommitting to the club for the 2018 season despite the Murray Bombers still searching for a new coach.

The list is headlined by Ruory Kirkby, who has delivered in his first season at the club with 49 goals, former Essendon VFL player Daniel Willis joining him in re-signing.

Cameron Valentine will also remain with the club after missing large parts of the season with a knee injury.

Club president Brett Stevens was thankful for the loyalty the players showed to the club.

‘‘Obviously it’s been a disappointing last few weeks on the field, so to get these guys to commit shows they have faith in us,’’ he said.

‘‘Part of that is the faith in us is to pick a coach, and with these boys committing, the hope is others will follow, and quite a lot of our fringe players have already committed.’’

It is understood some players will wait for Andrew Briggs’ replacement to be named before signing on for 2018, captain Jordan Florance one of the players keen to know the new coach before committing for 2018.

But Stevens remained confident the skipper would return to the club, and said the timeline for appointing a new coach was still a few weeks.